Quizzical and comical, goats, like this friendly Nubian, strike a pose without even meaning to.RICK WETHERBEE

Learn how raising goats for milk can also supply you with plenty of milk for cheese, yogurt and ice cream as well.

Whether your property is one acre or several hundred, sloping or flat, crowded with brush or completely forested, raising goats for milk can be a snap with good planning. Two goats will produce enough quality fresh milk — with each doe averaging 3 quarts a day for 10 months — to feed your family all year and possibly have enough milk left for cheese, yogurt or even ice cream.

Goat milk ice cream? You might be raising your eyebrows right now because you've heard goat milk tastes funny. This rumor probably got started because someone kept the buck among the herd, especially at milking time. A buck can be quite odoriferous, and his strong, musky scent can permeate the milk. The fact is, properly collected goat milk tastes just as good as cow milk. Some people believe it tastes better.

"I have a friend whose brother refused to drink goat milk because he knew he wouldn't like it," says 20-year goat veteran Gail Damerow, editor of Rural Heritage magazine and author of Your Goats: A Kid's Guide to Raising and Showing.

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Gail's friend bought a carton of cow's milk from the store for her visiting brother. After he emptied the carton, his sister refilled it with fresh goat milk. The scenario continued until a week later, when he noticed the carton looked a bit worn around the edges. She admitted he'd been drinking goat milk all week. He became an instant convert.

More of the world's people consume goat milk than cow milk. Goats are hardy animals who adapt well to heat and cold, forage and graze productively, require little space and are inexpensive to keep. Since mature females usually weigh between 120 and 135 pounds (dwarf breeds can weigh between 35 and 85 pounds), they're much easier to handle than hefty cows, which can weigh 1,000 pounds each.

Goats may surprise you in other ways, as well. They're highly intelligent, remarkably friendly creatures. And, since they're active, extremely agile and very curious, their antics can amuse you for hours.

Goat Dairy Breeds

There are more than 200 different goat breeds worldwide; six primary breeds dominate the dairy goat arena: Alpines, Oberhaslis, Saanens, Toggenburgs, LaManchas and Nubians. While all breeds generally do well in most of the country, the first four breeds listed are well-suited to cooler climates since their origins can be traced to Swiss mountain regions. LaManchas and Nubians hail from tropical and desert climates where it's warmer, and they tolerate hot summer conditions better than the Swiss breeds.

"When we first moved here 36 years ago, it didn't take too long to figure out a milk cow wouldn't be able to manage these slopes," says Dene. "We fell in love with the LaManchas' gentle disposition and calm nature, and chose Nubians for their pendulous ears and variety of colors. However, LaManchas remain our personal favorite."

One up-and-coming dairy breed you might want to consider is the Nigerian Dwarf dairy goat, a West African native that is a surprisingly good milker. Cheryl Smith, editor of Ruminations: The Nigerian Dwarf and Mini Dairy Goat Magazine, acquired her first Nigerians about four years ago. Despite their small size, Nigerian does kid (give birth) very easily. But the best thing, says Cheryl, is the fact that Nigerian milk has extremely high butterfat and protein content. The higher protein means you get more cheese out of the milk. Toward the end of a lactation, Cheryl says, the butterfat can reach 8 to 10 percent, compared to about 3.5 to 6 percent for other breeds.

Depending on the breed you choose and your location, the expense of purchasing a goat can vary widely. Expect to pay anywhere from $75 to $500, depending on whether or not the goat is registered. Buy registered goats if you want to compete in shows. Above all, try to buy your goats from a breeder who lives nearby. That way the goats are already adapted to your climate, plus you can see the environment where they were raised.

There are many ways to find a goat breeder. Start by visiting goat shows at your county or state fair. Get a referral from your local feed store or county extension office. You can also contact the American Dairy Goat Association or the specific organization that promotes your chosen breed for a list of local breeders. It's best to avoid livestock auctions or sale barns. Most importantly, invest in the best quality goats you can afford.

Goats are friendly herd animals who enjoy being in each other's company, so always start off with at least two goats.

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Getting Started Raising Dairy Goats

As with any farm animal, certain needs should be provided for before your goats get home. For starters, goats need some type of shelter. They don't need anything elaborate, just a place that's clean, dry and draft-free, yet well ventilated. Anything from an old outbuilding to a small shed or barn will do.

In her book Your Goats, Gail recommends at least 15 square feet of housing per goat. Miniature goats can get by on less, about 10 square feet per goat. Stalls should be equipped with a rack for hay, a trough or box for grain, and a water pail holder. Include extra space for storing feed and other supplies, as well as a stand for milking. Separate the storage and milk areas from the goat quarters with a wall or partition 4 feet high. It's important to keep the goats' bedding clean and dry. Top off the bedding as needed with fresh straw and replace bedding that gets damp or soiled. And remember: Goat manure and bedding are great for the garden.

Give your goats plenty of outside space where they can play, exercise and forage to their heart's content. While some experts suggest 200 square feet as the minimum, more space is even better, especially if you want to give your goats access to fresh forage. Of course, goats with room to roam come with a price: good, sturdy fencing. A fence that keeps in cows or even sheep doesn't guarantee goats can't wander beyond its boundaries. They can squeeze through openings, nudge their way through weak areas and hop a fence if a large rock or elevated ground is nearby. A woven-wire or high-tensile electric fence at least 4 feet high is best for property boundaries. Keep the spacing tight on the lower portion of the fence so the younger goats can't get through.

It's best to allow your goats access to pasture and forage. They'll eat whatever is available: Goats are opportunistic feeders and appreciate a varied diet. This characteristic not only saves you time and labor, but helps reduce your feeding costs. Try to keep an eye on what's growing in your pasture, though; some types of plant, such as wild onions, can drastically alter the flavor of the milk. Make sure your goats have some type of roughage year-round, such as twigs, bark, leaves or pasture. Corn and sunflower stalks from the garden are another good source, as is a fine-stemmed hay, such as alfalfa or clover.

In addition to pasture and/or forage, a milking doe should receive 2 to 3 pounds of commercial feed, such as a 16 percent dairy ration, each day along with 3 or more pounds of hay. The amount will vary depending on other food sources, quality of feed and your goat. Ask your breeder about a feeding program. Provide fresh water.

Goat-proof any areas that might have plants growing that can be toxic to goats, such as oleander, yew and larkspur. You can find information about poisonous plants in your area by checking with your county extension agent, listed in the government pages of the phone book. Reference material on poisonous plants is also available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture and your state's agriculture department.

Goat Milk Management

Keep the milk supply flowing by breeding your does once a year, starting when they are 8 months old or when the does weigh at least 80 pounds (for regular-size breeds). Dairy goats are usually bred in the fall; however, they may be in heat any time from August to January. Does remain in heat for three days, usually on a 17- to 21-day cycle. Put your does and buck together at this time. Once bred, the buck should be separated from the does to ensure fresh-tasting milk. Kidding (giving birth) will occur about 145 to 150 days after breeding. Does usually have twins — sometimes triplets, depending on the breed. The doe will "freshen" and give milk after the kids are born. If kept milked, she will continue producing for up to 10 months. Allow her a dry period of about two months before she delivers new kids and begins producing milk again.

During the milking period, you and the kids can share the milk; the doe should provide plenty. The best plan, says Gail, is to confine the kids overnight after they are 2 weeks old and milk the doe in the morning. After her morning milking, leave the kids with the doe to nurse at will. Some people milk the does twice a day and give the kids bottles, which is labor-intensive but helps accustom kids to human handling.

Milking is easy to learn: Just ask anyone who's ever milked a cow or goat to show you how. Milking is easier if you feed the does grain as you milk them. Milk out both udders completely and milk about the same time each day. If you milk twice a day, separate the milking time by about 12 hours. Keep your milking equipment and area clean.

Once you've finished milking, cool the milk-filled container as quickly as possible by placing it in a large pan filled with cold water and leaving it for about 15 minutes. Occasionally stirring the milk with a clean utensil will help it cool evenly. Once the milk has cooled, pour it into glass containers and refrigerate immediately.

Goat milk differs from cow milk in that the butterfat globules are smaller, so they disperse more easily, making goat milk naturally homogenized. Unlike cow milk, the cream will not separate on its own, so goat milk products will be much smoother and creamier. If you want to make butter, you'll need to buy or borrow a cream separator. Another difference you may notice is goat milk appears whiter than cow milk.

Avoiding Goat Problems

You can keep your goats healthy and avoid a lot of potential problems, such as pneumonia, diarrhea or parasites, by keeping the goat house and bedding clean and providing draft-free housing with adequate ventilation. If you check your goats daily you'll be able to identify minor ailments before they become serious. Most likely, you'll need to worm and vaccinate your goats, although the amount and frequency necessary will vary depending on your location and your goats. Your county extension agent or breeder can give you valuable advice.

"Some herds suffer from excessive worm loads, to the point of dead goats," Gail says, "because their forage area isn't properly managed, and the goats aren't wormed often enough for their situation." Worms can be a serious problem for goats, especially in humid or rainy climates. "By periodically opening fresh pasture and worming seasonally, we've been able to avoid that problem."

You'll need to castrate any buck kids that you aren't keeping for breeding purposes. Some people opt to dehorn the kids with a tool called a disbudding iron, which looks like a soldering iron with the tip sawed off. Other goat advocates say leave the horns because they make good handles for moving the critters around. (Editor's note: Our resident goat wrangler says, "If you have an aggressive goat, eat it and get a nice one.") Trim the hooves regularly: how often will depend on where your goats spend most of their time — on soft ground and bedding or on hard ground and rough surfaces.

Beyond enjoying the bounty of wholesome products they provide, you won't be able to resist spending time with your goats and enjoying their friendly nature and jovial behavior. It's almost impossible to be depressed when you're watching the goats in your pasture.

Kris Wetherbee lives with her photographer husband, Rick, at Camelot, their 40-acre country property located in the rolling hills of western Oregon.

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